Union to fight closures of Pharsalia, Georgetown facilities

SOUTH PLYMOUTH – The state correctional officer’s union has announced that it will fight the state’s Department of Correctional Services plan to close four prison camps including Camp Pharsalia and Georgetown.

Vice President for the New York State Correctional Officers Tom Haas said he believed the proposed savings from the closures were “misleading numbers.”

“They will still have inmates’ upkeep costs and salaries, officers and non-uniform staff will be transferred, not eliminated, and the move will spread cost to county and other state positions,” Haas said.

Gov. David Paterson’s proposed the closing of the four camps as part of his 2009-10 state budget cuts. This is the second time since November that the governor has aimed to cut back at the minimum security facility, which state officials claim is below 50 percent capacity and needs to be consolidated into other facilities.